Artificial intelligence (AI) is an extensive scientific discipline which enables computer systems to solve problems by emulating complex biological processes such as learning, reasoning and self-correction. This paper presents a comprehensive review of the application of AI techniques for improving performance of optical communication systems and networks. The use of AI-based techniques is first studied in applications related to optical transmission, ranging from the characterization and operation of network components to performance monitoring, mitigation of nonlinearities, and quality of transmission estimation. Then, applications related to optical network control and management are also reviewed, including topics like optical network planning and operation in both transport and access networks. Finally, the paper also presents a summary of opportunities and challenges in optical networking where AI is expected to play a key role in the near future

We propose a cognitive Quality of Transmission (QoT) estimator for classifying lightpaths into high or low quality categories in impairment-aware wavelength-routed optical networks. The technique is based on Case-Based Reasoning (CBR), an artificial intelligence technique which solves new problems by exploiting previous experiences, which are stored on a knowledge base. We also show that by including learning and forgetting techniques, the underlying knowledge base can be optimized, thus leading to a significant reduction on the computing time for on-line operation. The performance of the cognitive estimator is evaluated in a long haul and in an ultra-long haul network, and we demonstrate that it achieves more than 98% successful classifications, and that it is up to four orders of magnitude faster when compared with a non-cognitive QoT estimator, the Q-Tool.

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In this paper, a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller integrated with a neural network (NN) is proposed to ensure quality of service (QoS) bandwidth requirements in passive optical networks (PONs). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time an approach that implements a NN to tune a PID to deal with QoS in PONs is used. In contrast to other tuning techniques such as Ziegler–Nichols or genetic algorithms (GA), our proposal allows a real-time adjustment of the tuning parameters according to the network conditions. Thus, the new algorithm provides an online control of the tuning process unlike the ZN and GA techniques, whose tuning parameters are calculated offline. The algorithm, called neural network service level PID (NN-SPID), guarantees minimum bandwidth levels to users depending on their service level agreement, and it is compared with a tuning technique based on genetic algorithms (GA-SPID). The simulation study demonstrates that NN-SPID continuously adapts the tuning parameters, achieving lower fluctuations than GA-SPID in the allocation process. As a consequence, it provides a more stable response than GA-SPID since it needs to launch the GA to obtain new tuning values. Furthermore, NN-SPID guarantees the minimum bandwidth levels faster than GA-SPID. Finally, NN-SPID is more robust than GA-SPID under real-time changes of the guaranteed bandwidth levels, as GA-SPID shows high fluctuations in the allocated bandwidth, especially just after any change is made.